backsoon

Not much to do.

No police will help you, there are no internet police as such, if you can get Yahoo to restore the account ok, if not go to gmail.

While it is in this state immediately go and change your email on any other services where you use this email addy as a contact point.

After you change the email, change the passwords.

Thanks for reply. I ran a compete scan of the system - zero result. A friend of mine who knows much more than me says that most likely the Yahoo servers were hacked, not my computer. Am I the only one with this problem? The worst thing is - I cannot read my emails, as Yahoo blocked my acc. This is a real pain. I think I will wait for a day or two and try to restore my acc with them.

Today I had a phone call from a person whose name and email was in my list of contacts on Yahoo Messenger.

He said that an email from me came to him saying that I lost my passport and money asking him for money. Obviously a scam involving Identity theft and cracked password (very strong). Lately I started getting disconnected from yahoo as 'Signed in on another device'.

My attempt to contact Yahoo lead nowhere. When trying to change the password their computer generated message suggested that my new password will be sent to [email protected] . Needles to say, it is not my address. I have grounds to believe that the owner of this email address is a thief. Questions:

What do I do from now? Where to report this fact? Is there a Police branch dealing with Cyber crime? Why internet does not clearly say what to do and where to report such things? Are my emails to my correspondents compromised? Are my banking details on 'secure lines' also compromised? I am not a computer wizard, so, please, keep your humour for another case.

Obviously the personal identity of the registered owner of the above address is protected. Pity his/her victims are not. Needless to say that my PC is 'protected' by a good reputable internet security system.

Thanks for advice.

If I get one of these billion times faster computers will it make my Thai internet international download speed faster?

What is the point? The bottleneck is always outside the PC.

Sorry to be a bit off the topic, but not being a great expert in using these modern Ipads, Iphones, Itablets etc. will somebody, pls point me the right way in terms of OVERALL COSTS.

A friend of mine bought in Oz an original Apple Iphone on $40/month 2 year plan. This $960 spread over 24 months gives him UNLIMITED calls to any number in Oz free plus internet, emails etc.

Anything similar here?

Lessons to learn: If you are rich - buy gold. If you are going full steam ahead - buy coal. Whatever you buy - pay in AUD. Australia is a new 'safe heaven' and Gillard holds the keys.

Oops, I decided to report myself.

Most countries have 6 months passport validity condition for visas issue.

1.Go-go bar, massage, spa, hair salon in this descending order = some relation to professional services.

2.Most people have secrets in their closets. Look at contradicting signs: income, lifestyle, posessions.

3.Great difference in income is a bad thing - you'll never know if its love or money.

4.Beware of thinking more with your loins than head - all men are prone to this.

5.'Cultural' differences are less important than educational levels. A simple mind will always be there.

6.Sex skills we all like, but it usually comes from experience (past). And do not think you'll change her.

Well, I've tried to be serious. Most people give you here their genuine advice. Take it, but do your own thinking,- the matter is a serious one. The only thing I reject in many posts is the term 'Thai women'. It is a fallacy. They are no better or worse than American, Russian, Latin, etc. Good luck, but I do not believe it

How about asking (and getting a print out) of land lots sold in the vicinity, say, for last 2 years? With actual sale prices. This is no great secret, the figures are actual sale figures, so you do not rely on 'valuer's opinion'. This you adjust to your personal value, your needs, size and location, development rate in the area, purpose of use, etc.

But in this case you can not blame anybody else if you make a boo-boo. Some may not like this

Luckily, I closed my acc with Facebook long ago...

Kiwi, I like your bit, but let's not befriend.

Could somebody explain the need for erzats socialising Facebook offers?

Looks to me like virtual masturbation...

I dont eat Thai and cook at home 99.9% of the time. cant say its cheaper but the variety is only limited by my imagination.

OP question is not an easy one to answer. I am an excellent cook (all my friends admit this) and I like Thai cooking to a limited degree.

I prefer european recipes (Greek, Italian, French) and you can call me food fussy. Result - I cook and eat at home.

As to the cost and mess and time - there is an easy solution. I tought my wife to cook exactly as I like it. Luckily she likes my food. We even make cakes and dark rye bread at home. They turn out much better than in cafe.

But cheaper it is not! Unless you compare 5 Star restaurant prices with home made. Freshness is an added bonus.

P.S. Street vendors or cheap restaurants food is not up to scratch: overcooked, too salty, too spicy and not clean. It's edible, but no, thanks.

Did anybody see the 'white' cherries? I'm really craving!

Yes I feel the same, I have also found that K Bank seems to have the highest "extra" fee and charges, I voted with my feet, shut all the accounts there and changed over to Citibank, where for the first time in Thailand banking I feel that I am treated as "the customer" NO FEES at all, having said that as I do most of my transactions online I would not expect fees either, the best part is they yes THEY offered me a 45 day interest free platinum visa card with NO credit/history check and NO weird conditions attached ( like having X amount in there bank as secuirty ), I can highly recommend them, also you can use ANY ATM in the world!! and not be hit with fees...nice one Citi,

My friends, please stop bickering. The complaint is not about the money. As I said, it is a pittance. But the principle is important more than a few baht.

It looks to me that SCB in Pattaya is the same SCB in Rayong. At least it should be!

Well, cable is a step forward from TV from Fox. These guys repeat programs (movies) for months! If you ask how much is 2x2 and one guy says it is 6 and another one says 5, don't you think that the second answer is a huge progress in maths? One might even call it a breakthrough in science.

Sorry, forgot, - get a satellite!

The cheepest would be the Cherry brand from China. They have had bad reviews particularly for Safety . That is enough not to consider them alone .

Also depends on what kind of a driver you are. You would want to enjoy it, I'm sure.

You would be looking at the smallest versions of Toyota, Nissan, Chevvy, Ford and Honda. All of them will start from 450.

Personally, since I'm a fast driver, I chose Honda City. Never looked back for 4 years.

Good hunting!

Could you make an urgent application in Court, outlining the situation and, considering you are willing to either adopt or sign custody agreement, ask for the injuction on your partner's departure, subject her executing all things necessary.

The injuction should be subject to immigration authorities resolving/approving kids status.

Hope it works for you and the Court can seize your partner's passport. That will teach her not to be frivolous.

Sorry, mate. It looks like we'll have to do without (no lobsters for you, no sheep milk for me).

Pity though

I agree to answers above. You are not entitled to do any work, including non-paid work.

However, I understood that you don't need any salary, you just help your wife. If that is the case, you may consider obtaining "O" visa.

Category “O” (other) – this category entitles a person:

d) to participate in unpaid volunteer work in Thailand

It still requires paperwork for the school your wife is working for, but not that much as it would be for "B" visa.

Good luck in your endeavors.

It is getting curiouser and curiouser.

I am talking to my g/f in English. I correct her mistakes in grammar, spelling and pronunciation. She loves me for this.

Which Law of this land do I break? (being a retiree with O visa).

Furthermore, she has a child who studied English at school for many years. With a common 'zelch' result.

I have been asked to do the same for the child. I do this informally at my place. Now, they both love me for this.

Which Law of this land do I break?

I think I feel like being sarcastic this morning... Time for breakfast

Darrel, Samran, NewlyMintedThai, Billd766, Kee Nok, tfc and others...

We do not have any real arguments. As I already said above -

I AM HERE. I LIKE IT HERE. I INTEND TO STAY. I AM HERE FOR YEARS BY PREFERENCE.

Having said this, I insist on the following:

we all (farang expats) have rights of a stray dog; we all can be denied our stay any time; our investments here are therefore very much at risk; we are subjected to indignities, inconveniences and stress caused by uncertainties of our yearly non immigrant O visas renewals; all this has nothing to do with Thai people, Buddism, Islam, Christianity or economics.

I know about Malays, Chinese, Indians and Arabs you have mentioned. I am happy with Thais.

BUT WHY AM I TREATED LIKE A STRAY DOG BY EXISTING IMMIGRATION LAWS?

I would rather pay 20KBt to have a permanent residence than appear 5 times each year and pay 2KBt for a yearly 'O' visa. And I fail to see what makes Billd766 happy having to dress-up, drive for 125km to get his in 4 min. Not having much to do? Maybe I'm just plain stupid?

If one day the rules change and we all get a big fat NO to our extention of stay, say goodbye to all your investments and properties... Who will buy them and for how much??? I hope you guys see this my way. And have a nice life.

Retired, OYO residence, no work, no business, no marriage, no sex tourist, no child abuse, financial conditions resolved...

So, instead of visa runs, I am offered a 'security' of yearly renewable non O retiree plus 90 days reporting. Bliss!

A 1-year retirement visa extension in return for just a 800K deposit (or proof of income) seems quite generous to me. Most countries wouldnt give you as much or would want you to show (invest) much more money.

The 90-day reporting is a pointless nuisance but it isnt actually difficult.

Thai neighbour (Malaysia) is way more 'generous', offering 10 years unlimited re-entry, free business activity, land and housing ownership and free movement of your money in and out.

Compare this with uncertainty of retiree's stay in Thailand and you really forget the pointless nuisance of 90 days reporting as well as any invitation to invest in Thailand, wherever it comes from.

Those who 'invest' into marriage - good luck to them. But it isn't investment in Thailand. And we al know the risks involved anyway.

In any case, I like it here, I am here, I comply with the rules. But don't ask me to like them. And don't think I am not at risk (meaning my money). Does it have to be this way?

Maybe we could agree on:

Thailand visa rules are way too easy for sextourists and/or eternal students and/or illegal workers.

Thailand visa rules are way too difficult for married (to thai wife) or retired people.

Ahh, finally! I will second this.

Retired, OYO residence, no work, no business, no marriage, no sex tourist, no child abuse, financial conditions resolved...

So, instead of visa runs, I am offered a 'security' of yearly renewable non O retiree plus 90 days reporting. Bliss!

Just would like to see the logic behind this. Anyone?

I agree that condo rentals of under, say, 1 calendar month should be prohibited and indeed it would appear that by law they already are.

That said, my building has several large signs on the ground floor advertising rooms by the night and no one seems to care very much.

Very serious matter. Since I live neither in BKK nor Pattaya, these problems are magnified and multiplied by x10.

Blatant disregard for the Law in general and for the Rules written in the Condo Articles of Juristic Person. And I mean almost each and every one of these Rules. Including Safety Rules and Regulations.

I tried to fight. Even went to Court. Believe me, it's futile. TITs are TITs and shouldn't be mistaken for bums.

Hope one day

<p>What is Truth?  What are Facts? There are no such things, - only perception!</p>

<p>Is your perception affected in any way?</p>

<p>Stop being her 'friend'! This might work wonders with your perception</p>

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Here they go again on the education thing, thrashing about throwing stuff on the wall "hoping" something will stick. Some core issues were conspicuously absent from all the "stuff." Thai students notwithstanding a few, at least when they reach the level of university, have an overwhelming sense of entitlement. This corrupts their ability from the start to see the educational process as an opportunity to learn. Thai students lack initiative, desire, and persistence. They have a very limited attention span and are disinterested in most worldly subject matter with little or no work ethic. It's not their fault, they are a by product of Thai culture, where achievement and accomplishment are ranked very low on the list of important values.

Universities blatantly copy textbook and other intellectual property material and distribute it as a profit center and sell the pirated material to the students at prices close to the list price of the actual material. How can students learn to respect law, morality, and ethics if the university itself is teaching the opposite? In numerous cases, privileged class students have had their seats bought and paid for by parents who spend little time before hand instilling moral values, character, and work ethic, but rather absorb them in "Thainess" and they are ill prepared for a true university level learning experience. They are taught to memorize rather than to absorb and understand. They lack basic "conceptualization" and thinking through skills. Another post referred to teaching numeracy, and this is needed, but the ability to comprehend and interpret meaning is a prerequisite to learning how to organize ideas, something that is absent for the most part in university level Thai students.

I tend to agree with above. My past experiences in the field of Education give me a good insight into the problems with Thai system. Obviously, Thais are good in dexterity and creativity areas. Not so good in sci, eng and manufacturing.

Voicing changes at the Uni level will not address the main reasons. There is nothing whatsoever wrong with Thai mind. Thai students from Prep to Uni level are not encouraged to think. understand and conceptualize. The whole system is based on respect, memorisation and drilling. With obvious results. To change this one must look into Education principles from the very early stage. Net result means to change philosophy, which brings us not only to approx 40 years before the results will show (20 to prepare new teachers + 20 to raise new students) but also an X years to change the minds of existing practices. The X factor may be anything from 'never' to another 2500 years. But this is Politics and I am not going into it. I wish all Thais the best of luck, but personally do not believe in it.

I would like Thailand to introduce stricter visa rules. i.e. Similar to the rules in EU and US.

I second this. And along with it I would like to see Thai farang-phobia gone.

Many retirees live here for years, have property, family, yet still have to see Immigration every 90 days.

There should be a limit to ridicule even in case of TIT.